Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Breast Self-Examination. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is a breast self-exam? To do a breast self-exam: Remove all your clothes above the waist. Lie down. Lying down spreads your breasts evenly over your chest and makes it easier to feel lumps or changes.
Check your entire breast by feeling all of the tissue from the collarbone to the bottom of the bra line and from the armpit to the breastbone. Use the pads of your three middle fingers—not your fingertips. Use the middle fingers of your left hand to check your right breast.
Use the middle fingers of your right hand to check your left breast. You can use an up-and-down pattern or a spiral pattern. Move your fingers slowly in small coin-sized circles. Use three different levels of pressure to feel all of your breast tissue. Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue close to the skin surface. Medium pressure is used to feel a little deeper, and firm pressure is used to feel your tissue close to your breastbone and ribs. If you are no longer having periods, choose a day that's easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.
The lower half of your breast can feel like a sandy or pebbly beach. The area under the nipple can feel like a collection of large grains. Another part might feel like a lumpy bowl of oatmeal.
Start a journal where you record the findings of your breast self-exams. This can be like a small map of your breasts, with notes about where you feel lumps or irregularities. It is not unusual for lumps to appear at certain times of the month, but then disappear, as your body changes with the menstrual cycle if you are still menstruating. Learn more about Breastcancer.
So if you feel a lump that doesn't show up on a mammogram, bring it to your doctor's attention. Get it evaluated. Marcia Boraas, M. Sameer Gupta, M. Create a profile for better recommendations. Breast implant illness BII is a term that some women and doctors use to refer to a wide range Sign up for emails about breast cancer news, virtual events, and more. For information about your specific risk factors, speak with your health care provider.
A number of screening methods, including mammograms in women, can help find and diagnose breast cancer. The decision to have a mammogram or use any other screening method may be a difficult decision for some women. While screening for breast cancer is often recommended, it is not mandatory.
Speak with your health care provider for information regarding how to get screened, the facts and myths about screening tests, how to maintain your breast health, and to get help making an informed decision.
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A breast self-examination involves checking your breasts for lumps or changes. Many breast problems are first discovered by women themselves, often by chance. Breast lumps can be non-cancerous benign or cancerous malignant.
Breast cancer can occur at any age, though it is most common in women older than Lumps or changes also may be signs of other breast conditions, such as mastitis or a fibroadenoma. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care does not recommend breast self-examinations for women ages 40 to 74 who do not have a higher risk of breast cancer.
It is a good idea to become familiar with how your breasts look and feel and to talk to your doctor about any changes. The best time to examine your breasts is usually 1 week after your menstrual period starts, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen or tender. Examining your breasts at other times in your menstrual cycle may make it hard to compare results of one examination with another.
If your menstrual cycle is irregular, or if you have stopped menstruating due to menopause or the removal of your uterus hysterectomy , do your examination on a day of the month that's easy to remember. A breast self-examination normally doesn't cause any discomfort. If your breasts are tender because your menstrual period is about to begin, you may feel slight discomfort when you press on your breasts.
When in doubt about a particular lump, check your other breast. If you find the same kind of lump in the same area on the other breast, both breasts are probably normal. In addition to examining your breasts while lying down, you may also check them while in the shower. Ask your doctor to show you ways you can examine your breasts. Many women find lumps or changes in their breasts, since some of these are normal changes that occur at various points in the menstrual cycles.
Finding a change or lump in your breast is not a reason to panic. Breasts often feel different in different places. A firm ridge along the bottom of each breast is normal, for instance. The look and feel of your breasts will change as you age. Your doctor may recommend additional tests and procedures to investigate breast changes, including a clinical breast exam, mammogram and ultrasound. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A breast self-exam for breast awareness is an inspection of your breasts that you do on your own.
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